Molten metal stream sampler

ABSTRACT

A sampler for obtaining a sample from a stream of molten metal includes a split steel mold for forming a disc sample for spectographic analysis and a pin sample for combustion analysis. The split steel mold has projecting sleeve portions which receive a tube which extends from a sample pickup which is inserted in the stream of metal. A refractory disc shields the disc mold halves from metal splash and a cardboard sleeve arranged around the projecting metal parts prevents coating of the mold with metal which can interfere with removal of the sample from the mold.

United States Patent [191 Falk [ MOLTEN METAL STREAM SAMPLER [76] Inventor: Richard A. Falk, 519 Westminster Dr., Waukesha, Wis. 53186 [22] Filed: Aug. 2, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 277,182

[451 Jan. 14, 1975 OTHER PUBLICATIONS British Chemical Engineering, Jan. 1965, p. 48.

Primary ExaminerS. Clement Swisher Attorney, Agent, or FirmWheeler, Norsell, House & Wheeler [57] ABSTRACT A sampler for obtaining a sample from a stream of molten metal includes a split steel mold for forming a disc sample for spectographic analysis and a pin sample for combustion analysis. The split steel mold has projecting sleeve portions which receive a tube which extends from a sample pickup which is inserted in the stream of metal. A refractory disc shields the disc mold halves from metal splash and a cardboard sleeve arranged around the projecting metal parts prevents coating of the mold with metal which can interfere with removal of the sample from the mold.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures /0 H /2 22 /d f; 4

PATENIEBJAN I 41975 SHEET 10! 2 PATENTEDJAN I 41% 3,859,857

SHEET 2 0F 23 MOLTEN METAL STREAM SAMPLER SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention provides a stream sampler which includes a pickup which is inserted in the stream of metal and which conveys the molten metal into a split steel sample mold. The sampler includes a refractory splash disc and cardboard sleeve which hold the mold halves together and prevent metal flow onto the metal mold parts which can interfere with removal of the sample from the mold. Two sample holders are disclosed for holding the sampler in the stream of metal. When the sample mold is in the form of two opposed cup-shaped members, a sample holder provided with an offset cradle and a spring biased clamping member with a release plunger releasably secures the cup-shaped molds in the cradle. I

Various pick-up configurations are disclosed to provide efficient fitting of the mold. In one embodiment, a quartz tube with an upwardly inclined tip portion conveys the metal to the mold. In a modified embodiment, a refractory sleeve with a beveled end conveys the molten metal to a pyrex glass or refractory the interior of the mold.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a stream sampler in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a modified embodiment of the sampler of the invention including a fragmentary sectional view of a sampler holder.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of an additional embodiment of the sampler of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sampler held in a sampler holder.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view of the sampler holder shown in FIG. 5.

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 discloses a stream sampler l0 which can be employed for obtaining a sample from a stream of metal being transferred from one vessel to another. The sampler 10 includes a sample mold 11 defined by a pair of allochiral mold halves 12 and 14 in the form of cups which include integral semicylindrical sleeve portions 16 and 18 which project from the mold halves 12 and 14. The mold halves l2 and 14 can be secured together by a tab 20 welded to both mold parts 12 and 14. The tab will become molded partially within the sample and can be provided with identification indicia.

The sampler 10 includes a pick-up tube 22 which has an upwardly inclined tip 24 adapted to be projected in the stream 26 of molten metal. The tube 22 is desirably constructed of fused quartz to provide sufficient strength at the bend 25. The tube 22 has an interior passage 28 which communicates with the interior 30 of the mold. The tubular passage 28 forms a pin sample 32 and the mold halves 12 and 14 form a disc 34 suitable for spectographic analysis. A straight pick-up tube can also be employed if the sampler is inclined to re ceive metal from the stream. A quartz pick-up tube with a beveled end can also be used.

The sampler 10 also includes a refractory shield 38 in the form of a disc which has a central aperture 40 which receives the mold sleeve portions 16 and 18. The shield 38 screens the mold portions 12 and 14 from metal splash which could coat the mold parts and thus interfere with later removal of the sample 30. Further rigidity and strength is afforded by a paperboard sleeve 42 which encapsulates the parts 16 and 18 to prevent molten metal from adhering to the parts 16 and 18. The paperboard sleeve 42 is affixed to the pick-up tube 22 by refractory cement 44 and the cardboard tube 42 is also anchored to the shield 38 by refractory cement 46. The mold parts can also be made of copper for chill iron sampling. Various deoxidant arrangements can be employed with the deoxidant located both in the tube 22 and the sample mold 11.

FIG. 2 discloses a modified embodiment of the sampler in which a pick-up tube 50 comprises a refractory sleeve with a beveled end 52. The interior wall 54 snugly receives a glass tube 56 which conveys the molten metal from the pickup tube 50 to the interior 57 of the mold. A tubular segment 60 of aluminum or zirconium deoxidant can be positioned in the tube upstream of the tube 56.

The sampler shown in FIG. 2 also includes an additional pin sampling mold 64 which can be a fused quartz tube with an air outlet 66 and a sample inlet 68 which projects into an aperture 70 in the mold halves to receive metal from the mold interior 57. Multiple pin molds can be utilized. The deoxidant 73 is mixed with the molten metal in the mold interior prior to entry of the metal into the pin mold 64. This embodiment also includes a paperboard sleeve 74 and a refractory disc Q tube in which a refractory sleeve 80 is provided with a side entry port 82 which communicates with an axial passage 84 to provide flow through a refractory, quartz or pyrex tube 86 within the mold sleeve portions into the interior 88 of the mold. A deoxidant 88 can be located in the passage 84. The refractory sleeve can be secured to the refractory disc 89 with refractory cement 90.

The stream samplers can be manipulated by a sampler holder 90 (FIG. 2) which includes a pipe 92 provided with an offset cradle portion 94 having a cradle surface 96 complimentary to the curvature of the cupshaped mold parts 12 and 14. The holder 90 also includes a rod 98 which is reciprocal in the pipe 92 and guided by a constricted aperture 100 at the end of the pipe 92. The rod 98 has a threaded end 102 which extends through an aperture 104 in a transverse web 106 and a plunger 108 telescoped over pipe 92. The pipe 92 has a shouldered aperture 110 which provides a seat for a spring 112 which biases a clamp portion 114 of rod 98 towards the cradle 94. Insertion and removal of the sampler is easily accomplished by manual pressure on the plunger 108 to overcome the bias of the spring 112.

A further type of sampler holder is disclosed in FIG. 5 in which a pipe is provided with a clamp 122 connected to the pipe 120 by a web 124. The clamp is provided with opposed pressure plates 126 and 128 which grip the flat surfaces of the mold.

What is claimed is:

1. A sampler for taking a metal sample from a stream of molten metal comprising wall means defining a sample cavity, a sample pick-up tube with a tip adapted to be inserted in the stream of metal and having a passage in communication with said cavity and wherein said pickup comprises a refractory tube with a uniform 1ongitudinal axis having a beveled end, said beveled end being in a plane which intersects said axis.

2. A sampler for taking a metal sample from a stream of molten metal comprising wall means defining a sample cavity, a sample pick-up tube with a tip adapted to be inserted in the stream of metal and having a passage in communication with said cavity and wherein said pickup comprises a refractory tube with a side entry port.

3. A sampler for taking a metal sample from a stream of molten metal comprising a pair of mold parts defining a sample cavity, said mold parts including axially projecting portions, a sample pick-up tube with a tip adapted to be inserted in the stream of metal and having a passage in communication with said cavity, a refractory shield arranged around said mold projecting portions, and a paperboard sleeve arranged around said projecting portions and extending from adjacent said shield toward said tip to cover said projecting portions and including an aperture in said mold parts, a pin sample tube extending through said aperture, said tube having a vent to afford metal flow from said cavity into said pin sample tube, and an aperture in said shield and wherein said pin sample tube extends through said aperture and is supported by said shield. 

1. A sampler for taking a metal sample from a stream of molten metal comprising wall means defining a sample cavity, a sample pick-up tube with a tip adapted to be inserted in the stream of metal and having a passage in communication with said cavity and wherein said pickup comprises a refractory tube with a uniform longitudinal axis having a beveled end, said beveleD end being in a plane which intersects said axis.
 2. A sampler for taking a metal sample from a stream of molten metal comprising wall means defining a sample cavity, a sample pick-up tube with a tip adapted to be inserted in the stream of metal and having a passage in communication with said cavity and wherein said pickup comprises a refractory tube with a side entry port.
 3. A sampler for taking a metal sample from a stream of molten metal comprising a pair of mold parts defining a sample cavity, said mold parts including axially projecting portions, a sample pick-up tube with a tip adapted to be inserted in the stream of metal and having a passage in communication with said cavity, a refractory shield arranged around said mold projecting portions, and a paperboard sleeve arranged around said projecting portions and extending from adjacent said shield toward said tip to cover said projecting portions and including an aperture in said mold parts, a pin sample tube extending through said aperture, said tube having a vent to afford metal flow from said cavity into said pin sample tube, and an aperture in said shield and wherein said pin sample tube extends through said aperture and is supported by said shield. 